*1. “The fear that casts out all fear…” – this is fear of the Lord. Since fear of the Lord is “the beginning of wisdom” and in its essence opens the way to absolute surrender of oneself to the beauty, truth, and goodness of God, it opens to Him and is rooted in Him who is “perfect love,” which “casts out fear” (1 Jn 4:18), filled ever more fully with “the fullness of God” (Eph 3:20).

*2. “LOVE! I delight in You! I delight in YOU…” — “God is love…” (1 Jn 4:16). There is the initial, imperfect delight, one in which there is more awareness of “delight”; ultimately, it tends toward the perfect delight of “YOU” – GOD, Who is LOVE.

Bethany Hang Out – a blog by Shawn Chapman, OCDS. Shawn is a member of the Austin community of Secular Discalced Carmelites. She also writes regularly for ATX Catholic online.

Elizabeth Explores Writing - a blog by Elizabeth Ogilvie, OCDS. Elizabeth is a Secular Discalced Carmelite of the U.S. Central Province.

Gray Rising – a blog by Tim Bete, OCDS. Tim is a member of the community of the Secular Discalced Carmelites in Dayton, OH.

Hearth Cake and a Jug of Water – Mary Bellman, a member of the Dallas OCDS community, sends out a daily Carmelite quotation by e-mail. Send her an email at bellman.mary@gmail.com if you would like to be added on her mailing list and receive these Carmelite quotations.

Illumina, Domine – a blog by Pat Enk, a Secular Discalced Carmelite of the U.S. Central Province.